Photo by Michael Flaherty
OUR STORY
Save People Save Wildlife (SPSW), a registered 501(c)(3), was founded in 2015 by a group of local residents who were alarmed by the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions taking place along the gateway to Park City, Interstate 80. At that time, there were no wildlife crossings across the busy interstate and the existing right of way fencing from Summit Park through the Jeremy Ranch Exit was in disrepair or, in some cases, non-existent. The wildlife continued to attempt to cross this roadway, and the wildlife deaths were increasing with dramatic frequency.
After countless collisions were reported involving large mammals and vehicles traveling at freeway speeds, we feared it was only a matter of time before it would result in human loss of life as well. SPSW members were determined to advocate for safety measures along this dangerous corridor, and the community joined our efforts. We began meeting with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and Summit County and soon learned that there was limited funding available that would keep the wildlife and motorists safe. This is when we began to advocate and fund-raise for wildlife fencing along I 80 where Federal and State projects failed to adequately address.
OUR PEOPLE
Erin Ferguson
PRESIDENT
Erin Ferguson is an Utah native that moved to Park City with her husband in 2010. Driving to SLC for work, both she and her husband were alarmed by the number of animals being hit and killed on I80 between Jeremy Ranch and the mouth of Parleys Canyon. They both decided something needed to be done. In 2011, wildlife fencing was installed on the SL County side of I80 but stopped at Parleys Summit. Ryan and Erin had a couple of meetings with UDOT following this installation; they were told that any hope of wildlife connectivity installation would not happen for at least two decades.
Lorelei Combs
VICE PRESIDENT
Lorelei was born in Montreal, Quebec Canada. She moved to Park City in 1987 and has resided for the past two decades in the Hidden Cove Subdivision. The combination of her passion for wildlife and her continued observation of wildlife/auto accidents on I-80 for the past 32 years living in Summit County motivated her to be a part of the startup grass roots Non-Profit organization Save People Save Wildlife in the fall of 2015.
Tom Farkas
TREASURER
Tom was born and raised in Coconut Grove, but ventured north for his college education. He has a BS in Civil Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, and a Master of Urban Affairs from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, VA.
Tom moved to Park City 15 years ago, after first trying skiing at a small ski resort in PA. He got the ski bug.
Mari Mennel Bell
BOARD MEMBER
Mari Mendel Bell holds a dual Masters Degree in Elementary Education (K-6) and Music Education (K-12) from New York University and a Masters Degree in Social Work from Adelphi University. She is a Certified Financial Planner Board Emeritus and was Lead Financial Planner for the Chase Exchange for Women. While living in New York City, she also played solo piano at Boss Restaurant and the Gramercy Hotel. She is a founding member of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.)
Jennifer Spina
BOARD MEMBER
Born and raised in Alaska, Jennifer developed a keen appreciation for nature and its wildlife inhabitants at an early age. Jennifer is fascinated with the natural world and the complex interconnectedness all life shares. She moved to Park City in 2017 from the pacific northwest and was ecstatic to be amongst moose again. Enthusiasm quickly dampened after seeing concentrated wildlife vehicle collisions along her neighborhood streets. She knew she wanted to be a part of finding a solution to help.
FRIENDS OF SPSW
Amy Mills
POLICY ANALYST
& FORMER BOARD MEMBER
I live in the Park Meadows section of Park City. Deer and moose frequently roam my neighborhood. I feel lucky to co-exist with these magnificent animals, even if I must share my garden with them sometimes! I have witnessed their dangerous and sometimes lethal crossing from Meadows Drive over SR 224. It’s clear to me that with all the success stories for wildlife overpasses and underpasses, including one that SPSW spearheaded over Interstate 80 at Parley’s Summit, we should be able to add at least one here in Park City. I joined SPSW to help make this happen.
Michael Flaherty
PROFESSIONAL WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER & FORMER BOARD MEMBER
Michael Flaherty was born and grew up in the Washington DC metropolitan area. He graduated from Carson Newman College in East Tennessee with a BS in Elementary Education and taught Elementary School in the City of Atlanta for three years. After living in Atlanta for 26 years, he moved to Park City in 2002 just prior to the winter Olympics. Michael is retired from being a sales executive vice president with various specialized insurance companies that worked with the banking industry. He is an avid wildlife and landscape photographer and since moving to Park City he has contributed many of his images to several non profit organizations in town.
Bland Hoke
PROFESSIONAL ARTIST & SILHOUETTE CREATOR
Contrary to what his name suggests, Bland Hoke is an exciting young designer on a global mission to inspire. Combining a unique background in public art with a love of the outdoors and cutting edge urban design, Bland collaborates with other creatives and stakeholders to bring forth fresh solutions and unexpected possibilities. Bland is the principal at Bland Design LLC and former Staff Artist at Jackson Hole Public Art. His process is a direct response to places and people, marked by a true understanding of contemporary design and a signature resourcefulness, courtesy of his Western roots.
Bill Ciraco
FORMER BOARD OF TRUSTEES
STEPS DOWN FROM SAVE PEOPLE SAVE WILDLIFE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Many thanks to Bill Ciraco for his time, passion, and advocacy devoted to Save People Save Wildlife over this past year.
We understand his decision to step away from the SPSW Board to devote more time to his role on the Park City Council and his many other contributions to this community and his family.
Ralph Hottinger
FOUNDER & FORMER BOARD MEMBER
OUR FRIEND AND WILDLIFE ADVOCATE, RALPH HOTTINGER, HAS LOST HIS BATTLE WITH CANCER. REST IN PEACE, FRIEND. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DID TO HELP THE WILDLIFE.
Ralph was born and reared in Salt Lake City. He discovered Park City and Summit County when I was 18 years old, and when he was 23 he found the Hidden Cove Subdivision. Ralph loved the Aspen-Conifer forests and wildlife in the area. He bought his 1st property and built the 4th home North of I-80.
